Pucker Up

While I do think parenting the year between ages 1 and 2 takes a lot of energy and can be very challenging, it's also an awesome period. Every day Nick is learning or achieving something new. I'm constantly surprised by the new things he can do or understand. In the past two weeks, his vocabulary has more than tripled (okay, so not a HUGE number when he was at about three words before, but still). He understands questions and can answer with a clear nod of the head (not quite saying "yes") or a very verbal "no" (usually accompanied by a vigorous shake of his head). It's great finally to understand what he wants through "conversation," instead of playing the pointing/guessing game and trying to figure out what he wants before his whines turn into screams. He also has picked up quite a few animals noises, which is always a fun game to play. He can roar, oink, moo and does a mean elephant trumpet.

He knows when he's not supposed to do things and understands "no" means "stop." Although instead of STOPPING, he usually gets a mischevious smile, wags his little finger and says "no, no," right before returning to his "no, no" activity--like messing with the controls on the DVD player. It's so adorable when he says it that it's hard to take a hard line and show him we mean business. Usually we just act like idiots, repeating back "no, no" in a sing-song voice, hoping he'll wag his finger again. Yes, we're chumps.

My favorite, favorite, favorite new trick, however, is his kisses!!! We ask for a kiss and he puckers right up and lays one on us--a vast improvement over the sloppy, open-mouth face press we used to get. After a kiss, I usually get a great big hug around the neck. Love, love, love! So far, he doesn't get sick of giving them, unlike Lainey who will sometimes ration me, "No more kisses for you today, mommy. You can have one tomorrow." Now Nick can keep me supplied with the love!

Pucker ready...

...smackaroo!

"No, no!"

A Weekend Away

                  Condo with a View

Mark and I escaped for long weekend to Florida for our six-year anniversary. It was a much needed few days away and we did nothing but sleep, eat, and hang on the beach. I haven't felt this rested and relaxed in over three years. No joke. 

We were originally set to stay at a mid-range hotel, but we ended up scoring a free condo. I was just excited to have free lodging on the beach, so when we arrived to the four-bedroom, two-bath condo with a balcony bigger than our kitchen, I thought "sure, guess we can make due with this." The fact that there was a French bakery right next to it was just powdered sugar on my beignet! 

Because we were so utterly lazy, I really don't have much to report on from our trip. The beach was not crowded, the water was warm, no rain crossed our path. Just a perfect couple of days with my best fella', drinking beer and daiquiris and enjoying some time together. 

Happy Anniversay, Mark! Let's make it another 60...

What's new with Nick?

Little Buddy had his 15-month check-up (oh about 4 weeks ago) and I’m happy to report that despite our nickname for him, he’s anything but little. His weight was almost 27 pounds (90-95%) height is 33 inches (95%) and as with Lainey, he’s still rockin’ a large melon. I had to miss this one, because I had just started the new job, but Mark said he took the shots like a trooper. Just a little whimper and he was over it!

Nick seems to be past his gross motor struggles we we’re seeing around 10 months. He’s quick on his feet and will climb on anything with no regard to his safety (or his mommy’s heart rate). I can’t take my eye off this kid for a second!!! I’m remembering what hard work this age is. I love the budding personality and seeing all his new accomplishments, but there is no down time…just constant watching, chasing, correcting, and protecting. He’s on the move, but has no concept of boundaries and seems to think “no” is the funniest joke I tell.

Fine motor skills seem to come pretty easy to Nick. I think he’s further ahead than Lainey was at this age. He’s very good with eating utensils and manipulates small toys very well. My favorite new activity (as of last night in the car) is “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” He was making some sing-songy noises, so I turned around to look in his mirror (Mark was driving) and him working his little fingers.  I started singing the song and his face lit up and he started doing the motions, making the itsiest, bitsiest, cutest spider ever!!! Loved it!

Nick’s very verbal and words include dada, ball, doggie, birdie, flower, more, all done and bubbles. He CAN say “mama,” because I can get him to repeat it, and he KNOWS that I’M “mama,” because he’ll look at me if you ask “where’s mommy?,” but he still doesn’t use it in reference to me. Maybe because he’s too busy calling for “dada, dada, DADA!” He only wants his daddy…unless he just finished throwing up, then he wants me. It stings a little to have him burst into wails and cling to Mark when I take him away, but I remember Lainey was once the same way and now she’s my bestie and usually prefers me to Mark. Can’t they just love us equally?!!

My sweet boy is having some trouble transitioning from the infant room to the toddle room at daycare. We thought it was going to be an absolute breeze, because he loved going to the Chimps (toddler) room to visit and would cry when he had to go back to the Koala (infant) room. He would even reach for one of the teachers from my arms during drop-off. Well, guess he’s not down for being there permanently. I’m hoping he turns a corner soon, because it breaks my heart dropping him off in the morning! And I have to do it, because if he gets that upset to see me go, then you can only imagine how he’ll react seeing Daddy walk out the door. I wish the drama were only at drop-off, but so far it seems to be carrying on throughout the day. Booooo!!!

Daycare woes aside, Nick’s lookin’ good and feelin’ fine these days! 

Hugs for mommy...

...before smacks for mommy!
(We're working on the hitting.)

Check Out Our Wheels

My (belated) Mother's Day gift was a new bike. Not that I was personally dying for one--it had been 18 years since I'd been on a non-stationary bike--but, both kids love taking bike rides and since there is only one of Mark, I had to step up to the plate. Turns out--it's just like riding a bike!

I wanted a few weekends to practice my riding skills before strapping my son to the handlebars, so it wasn't until this past weekend that we FINALLY took our inaugural family bike ride. It's great that we have such a bike/family friendly neighborhood to ride around in together. There's little traffic and the cars that do come your way, go slowly and give a wide berth when passing. Since we did so well this first time out, I think the next trip we'll hit the nature preserve to feed the ducks. Look at me--being all kinds of active!

Wipe that worried look off our face, Little Buddy! Mom's got this!

Birthday Girl

After months of anxiously awaiting her birthday, Lainey finally got to celebrate…three different times!!! (Three for age three, I guess!)

We celebrated with Dad and Sharon two weeks ago with a trip to the zoo, presents, and mini cupcakes. Dad got her a table and chairs and a Doc McStuffins dress-up set. She was ADORABLE in her little doctor’s jacket and stethoscope. She gave examinations all around and later, when Dad bumped his knee, she took a listen to it and diagnosed a band-aid, all the while referring to herself as “Dr. Lainey.”

We decided to give her the dollhouse Mark had been lovingly laboring on while Dad was here (didn’t really make sense nor did we have the car space to drag it to Moline and back). I thought she would like it, but I was surprised at just how rapt she was with it. She’s been busy playing with it the past two weeks and even lets Nick get in on the action (but, only with the furnishings she chooses for him). I love it! It’s great to see how her little imagination works (and it lets me sit quietly on the couch and finish a cup of coffee). Everyone wins!!!

We took a trip to Moline this past weekend to celebrate both Elaine and Ben’s birthdays with the Brandi crew. (Ben’s birthday is the day before Lainey’s.) On Friday (her official birthday), Mark and I left Nick with grandma and took Lainey out for some solo time with us. We hit the park and then took her to lunch where she ordered pancakes and French fries. It was a great morning, followed by a long nap. Things went south post-nap when, being the monstrous parents we are, we FORCED her gift upon her amid a series of tantrums. Seemed she would have much rather watched Ice Age on the couch than enjoy her brand-new, pink balance bike. Tears and screams were not the reaction we were hoping for with this gift. Luckily, we have the whole travesty saved on film, so we can relive the fun for years to come.

The party with the family on Saturday had no tears, however. Lainey loved being with her cousins to play and celebrate. She also loved all of her Frozen gifts, including her first “Barbies” – Anna and Elsa (we’ve had some interesting anatomy questions this past week). She also was quite pleased with her purple birthday cake that she’s been requesting since Nick’s birthday in March.

Three years went by way too fast, but I still find that she just gets better with age. Her imagination is off the charts and she comes up with the funniest things. I love our conversations and wish I could record everything she says right now, because there is just no way to remember all the cuteness!!!

Happy 3^rd Birthday, Laineybug! Let’s try to slow it down a bit on the way to 4, okay?

The Dollhouse - second generation in the Brandi Family

Dr. Lainey make house calls

 

Joy at the park!

The purple cake of her dreams (topped with Anna, Elsa and Olaf figures)!